Brake lever



C. R. DUNCAN Nov. 23, 1937.

BRAKE LEVER Filed Dec. l5, 1935 Patented Nov. 23, 1937 UNITED STATES a PATENT oFFlcE BRAKE LEVER Application December 13, 1935, Serial No. 54,173

3 Claims.

The present invention relates to a brake lever and more particularly to a brake lever assembly adapted to be mounted on the dash of an automotive vehicle.

Modern automobile design tends towards the elimination of brake levers in the middle of the drivers compartment so as to afford more leg room for comfort. Mounting a brake lever on the dash of an automotive vehicle is one desirable Way of accomplishing this purpose.

Among the problems incidental to such mounting, may be mentioned the restriction of space available for the operation of a brake lever when so mounted; mounting of the lever in such manner as to be adequate for applying requisite braking action on the wheels and at the same time interering as little as possible with the observation of the accessories usually mounted on the vehicle dash, at the same time not projecting from the dash to an extent as to interfere with persons entering and leaving the front seat of the Vehicle. The brake lever of the present invention eliminates the thumb button which, for sometime, has been utilized for manipulating the brake pawl as experience has demonstrated that the thumb button type is hard to manipulate, especially by feminine drivers, as Women do not possess sucient strength in their hands to pull back the brake lever and at the same time operate the thumb button to disengage the pawl fromthe rachet to release the brakes.

The brake lever of the present invention contemplates one which is adapted to be mounted on the dash of an automotive vehicle with the lever extending downwardly from its mounting bracket, is short, and is provided with a handle for operating the pawl which handle is pivoted adjacent the free end of the lever to thereby reduce the lever length to a minimum Without any reduction in its eiiiciency.

An object of the present invention is to provide brake lever assemblies for mounting on the dashes of automotive vehicles.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a brake lever construction wherein the over all length of the brake lever is reduced to a minimum without reduction of its efciency.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a'brake lever construction whereby the length of the lever may be reduced to a minimum without using the thumb button type of control for the brake lever pawl.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide in a brake lever construction a pawl held in engagement with a ratchet notch by spring means exerting pulling action on the pawl instead of pushing action against it as is common practice at the present time.

The accompanying drawing illustrates a lever constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention and the views thereof are as follows:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a brake lever of the present invention, as mounted on the dash of an automotive vehicle, and shown in o position.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the lever of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional View taken substantially in the plane indicated by line III-III of Fig. 1, and l5 Fig. 4 is a fragmental sectional View taken sub stantially in the pla-ne indicated by the line IV-IV of Fig. 1.

The drawing will now be explained.

The lever has been shown in the drawing as extending upwardly from its bracket. In practical application of the lever to a vehicle, the bracket is attached to a suitable support on the dashboard, behind the instrument board, with the lever hanging downwardly from the bracket.

, The lever A is manufactured preferably from a flat blank of metal suitably shaped and stamped so that when it is fashioned into a substantially hollow form, the meeting edges are brought together making a tight seam as at I. In the blanking of the piece and the formation of its as a hollow lever, two legs 2 and 3 are fashioned which are in parallel relation and laterally spaced to straddle the ratchet plate 4. The ratchet plate 4 is fashioned with an angularly disposed base 5 35 for receiving suitable bolts 6 to secure it to the face of a vehicle dash l, or to a suitable bracket between the cowl and dash, with a lever extending downwardly. The lever is shown as mounted on the dash with the lever movable through a substantially vertical plane. If desired and space permitted, the lever might be mounted to swing in other than a Vertical plane.

The lever for the most part is hollow and terminates at its free end with an outward flare 8 which serves to retain an end cap 9 on the free end of the lever which cap is applied to the free end of the lever and which has its margin spun over the outward are to thus secure the cap firmly in position on the lever. The cap, therefore, closes the free end of the lever and at the same time affords an easy and convenient grip for manipulating the lever in use.

The ends of the legs 2 and 3 are provided with registering apertures to receive a pivot bolt l0 55,

' thereby connecting the lever to the plate 4 in between the extremities of the lever and nearer t the extremities of the legs.

For actuating the pawl, a pawl rod I'I extends within the interior of the lever A andhas its end adjacent the pawl bent laterally and then transversely to provide a hooked end I8 for entering an aperture I9 in the pawl. The extremity of the hooked end IIl is apertured at 20 for a pur- Y `pose to be-later explained.

Adjacent the free endV of the lever ears 2I andV 22 are provided, being struck-from the material of which the lever ismade. These ears are aperv tured to receive a pivot pin 23. V-An operating handle for the pawl rod I1 is pivoted on the pin 23, Vand connected to `operate as a lever'of the rst-class'. n Y V f The operating handle B is made preferably from flat metal suitably shaped and formed to Yprovide strength and rigidity and also fashioned to foi-m two legs 24 and 25, with the leg 24 being shorter. The extremities of the leg l24 areY aperturedto receive a pivot pinV 26 for pivotally receiving a threaded socket member 21 into the threaded end of Vwhich the adjacent end of the pawl rod I1 is threaded. In this fashion, the pawl rod I'I is operatively connected to the operating handley B. The leg of the operating handle B lies along the exterior of the lever, adjacent its-free end and extends from its pivot 23 in a direction towards the fulcrum end of the lever, that is, towards the fulcrumbolt I0. By means of 'this construction, the length of the lever may be reduced toa minimum without sacrificing any of itseiiiciency in applying theV lwitha notch of the Iplate 4 a tension spring 28 has oneend engaged through the opening 20 in the. extremity of the Ypawl rodV VII and itsr other end passed through two of the slots of the castellated nut II and through an opening or hole in the bolt, thus preventing the nut I I from loosen- 'latched in on position. The provision of the extension spring 28 assures positive engagement Vuntilthe point of desired brake application had been reached. The pawl I5 would then engage a notch of the ratchet and the leverl wouldbe o f the pawl with its companion ratchet.

'When it is'desired to release the brakes, the

operator would grasp the lever with his palm against the leg 25 ofthe handle B and his iingers about the rear of the lever and by squeezing action at the same time moving the lever to the left a 'sufficient distance to readily disengagethe pawl from itsithen vengaged notch,` whereupon position, .which Va cylindrical-pin with cutters 30 at each end lng on the bolt, and at the same time securing Y this end of the Yspring in place. YThe spring 28 acts, therefore, with .a pulling pressure on the pawl as opposed to the present type of spring action which exerts a pushingaction against the pawl to maintain it in engagement with a notch of its sector or ratchet.

A pull member, such fas a cable or rod 29 is suitably attached to the pawl pivot I6 for applying the'brakes when the lever A is swung to the left, as viewed in Fig. 1. Y 1 The lever construction ofthe present invention is one which affords a buttonless typeY of lever and which is provided with pawl manipulating means which may bepressed bythe palm-of the to secure it in position. Preferably the pin` I6 is removably secured in theY lever so that Ain the event Ythe pull rod or p ull cable 2,9 Vhas to be Y repaired or Vreiilaced-or any, portion ofthe `operating structure of the lever Serviced, removal ofthe pin I6 will be possible whereby the .other parts of the lever may be'readily reached for proper maintenance. Y

The shprterleg 24 ofthe handle Bis herein Y 0rY less Dre-156.15 @SID details, Yet itis E010@ understood that the inventien is not to be lilrltedV Vthiireby as changes may beV made in the arrange,- ment and `prop ortion of parts and equivalents may be substituted without departing from the t' ,spirit and scope of the invention.V Y

The invention is claimed as follows:Y 41. In a brake lever assembly, a bracket, a lever pivoted to said bracket, a -lever pivot. bolt "connecting said lever to said bracket, a nut on said bolt, a pawl pivoted to said lever, a pawl spring having one end connected to said pawlY and the other end passing through an openingV in said bolt and engaging said nut with hook action to prevent looseningY of the nut on the bolt'and Vfor securing said endfof said spring in place. f,

2. A brake lever assembly including a notched sector and a lever pivotedV to said sector, a pawl carried by said lever for coacting with said sector, a pivot bolt Yconriect'edto said sector, a castellated nut on said bolt, and a pawl spring having one end hooked to said'pawl and the other end pass'- Ing through a slot of said nut and a cooperating aperture in said bolt to prevent said nut Vfrom shifting its position on said bolt. k Y

3. Brake lever construction including'asSuPDOrt for mounting on a Vehicle dash, Ya levercomprising a stamping forming hollowV shankand handle portions, said-support and lever having-co,-

said longer leg being spaced from the handle portion of the lever, and the shorter leg of said member entering and concealed by the hollow handle portion of the lever adjacent the free end of the lever and connected to said rod Within 5 said hollow handle portion.

CHARLES ROBERT DUNCAN. 

